“I have nothing to do with [it]. I knew nothing about it.” David Livingstone, February 1857

A Narrative of Dr. Livingston’s Discoveries in South-Central Africa, From 1849 to 1856. Reprinted by Arrangement from the “British Banner” newspaper. London: Routledge and Co., Printed by Reed and Pardon, no date but with a preface dated January 1857.

A small publication (size = 16mo), comprising 64 pages and with a folding map of central and southern Africa tipped in before the title-page. Bound in a pictorial cover of thick red card with a portrait on the front.

This is the first appearance in extended format of Livingstone’s activities and discoveries in Central Africa. It is constructed around quoted extracts and summaries from his letters previously published in the British Banner – a liberal weekly Christian newspaper founded in 1847, closely associated with the non-Conformist missionary movement.

The spelling by Routledge of Livingstone’s surname as “Livingston” conforms to the then family practice. The Saxon name of the family was originally spelt Livingstone, but David Livingstone’s father had shortened it by the omission of the final “e.” Accordingly, David Livingstone wrote it in this abbreviated form for many years until about 1857 when, at his father’s request, he restored the original spelling.

With only 15 libraries worldwide holding copies this is a scarce publication, a copy of which I picked up some months ago. More importantly, from a historical perspective, it was vehemently disowned by Livingstone.

Livingstone wrote long letters from Africa to the British Banner, the Missionary Chronicle, to private friends and others likely to take an interest in his missionary activities and plans. (See, Blaikie, W. Garden DD., LLD. The Personal Life of David Livingstone L.L.D., D.C.L. Chiefly from his Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of his Family, London, John Murray, 1880, page 96).

Upon Livingstone’s return to England in late 1856 a considerable amount of public interest existed wanting to hear more about his exploits and discoveries, and he was very quickly taken up with speaking engagements. Routledge’s publication of this first lengthy consolidated account of Livingstone’s activities, produced without his agreement and before he had the chance to publish his own narrative, was a very bitter pill for him to swallow. Livingstone had already been made aware earlier in 1856 that the publisher John Murray was eager to publish an account of his time in Africa, but he was only able to begin working on the first draft of a book in late January 1857.

Livingstone’s views and feelings about Routledge’s actions are evident from his letters of the time.

In a draft letter to the Editor of the Times, dated 25 January [1857], Livingstone denounces attempts by Routledge and other publishers to cash in on his fame, likening them to “hyaenas – low, dastardly, greedy hideous brutes – much given to cowardly filtching”. He specifically cites Routledge as out “to get money by false pretences”, and he urges the Times to publish his letter so that “every one will soon know that my travels are not published by Routledge & Co.” (Lot 99, Bonhams, London, 20 June 2018).

When the publisher George Routledge, seemingly intent upon conciliation, visited Livingstone on the 3rd of February 1857 his reception was frosty to say the least. As Livingstone recounted the event to his publisher John Murray, “Mr. Routledge and a Mr. Pardoe called here yesterday morning with the pamphlet, I refused to look at it”, telling them “I have abundant evidence people generally believe this narrative is by me tho I have nothing to do with [it]. I knew nothing about it.”  For his parting coup de grace he tells Murray that he “left them I did not ask them upstairs.” – presumably for refreshments. (Livingstone, David, “Letter to John Murray III, 4 February 1857.” Livingstone Online. Adrian S. Wisnicki and Megan Ward, directors.)

Livingstone clearly found this situation distressing. So much so that he considered abandoning writing his own account of his travels, as he explained to John Murray in a letter dated 15 March 1857;

“No case ever so far as I am aware occurred of a missionary’s letters being collected and published without any reference to the man himself. They did not I believe become the literary property of either the missionary society or of the British Banner or of any other paper by publication, they had no right to publish them in a collected form but as others are determined to take advantage of my wish to avoid all wrangling and contention I prefer to give up the thing altogether…”. (Lot 101, Bonhams, London, 20 June 2018)

As we know he did not abandon his writing but persevered with his own account and his book, ‘Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa’, was published by Murray later in 1857.